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When Should I Introduce Building Credit to My Kid?
It is never too early to introduce the topic of credit to your kids, as it is extremely important to make careful money decisions and establish good credit habits. Establishing good credit early not only sets them up for success later in life but will make it much easier to access good insurance, ability to rent, and apply for a loan when that the time comes.
When Should I Consider Getting My Kid a Credit Card?
The minimum age for a child to get a credit card and begin establishing credit is 18 years old. As a parent, preparing your child sooner is extremely important before they reach this milestone. It is still possible for your minor to build credit, so making smart choices is crucial to good credit habits and using credit wisely.
How Can I Start Helping My Child Build Credit Early?
If your young adult is ready to begin building credit with a credit card it is important to share with them the benefits a credit card offers if used correctly. Children typically have a better behavior when it comes to credit when they were educated early on, not only knowing how utilizing credit works. Here are a few tips to share:
- Make your payments on time
- Earn credit paying monthly bills such as utility, rent, cell phone, etc.
- Pay your bills each month – set up autopay through the company or your bank with Bill Pay or set reminders
- Keep a close eye on your credit report and dispute any errors immediately
- Do not open too many accounts
- Know what a good credit score is and keep an eye on yours
- Watch your credit utilization rate
How Can I Teach My Kid the Difference Between a Credit and Debit Card?
Most kids do not typically know the difference between a debit and credit card until they are properly educated, because to them they see you swiping your card at checkout and recognizing it as a general form of payment. To put it simply, a debit card is like cash that you have – cash physically in your bank account that you are using at the time of payment. A credit card is borrowed money, that you will have to pay back using the money you have in your bank account.
Should I Introduce a Debit Card First?
Understanding the difference between a debit and credit card is extremely important for your child to know as a debit card does not help build credit. Using a debit card first will help your child understand and build responsible habits making purchases before they get to the point of utilizing a credit card as it can be much more complex. You can look into youth checking accounts that offer debit cards. AbbyBank has a Bright Future Checking account to get the debit card education started early!
If you are in the market to get your child started on the topic of credit, we are here to help! Whether they simply need to open an account to start saving, a debit card to begin practicing making transactions, or are ready to get started with their first credit card, contact AbbyBank or learn more about your options on our website today.